REACTION OF VERDOHEMOGLOBIN FORMATION IN VITRO, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS QUANTITATIVE TREATMENT

Abstract

Myoglobin and hemoglobin are degraded in similar way into the immediate precursor of biliverdin, (verdoglobin) in presence of O2 and ascorbic acid, as follows: Hemoglobin (or myoglobin)[forward arrow] choleglobin[forward arrow] verdohemoglobin (or verdomyoglobin). This sequence of reaction of myoglobin is accelerated by benzoate, salicylate and dodecyl sulfate at respectively higher concentrations than they do in hemoglobin breakdown. The reaction is promoted progressively with the increasing ascorbic acid concentrations, and 80-100 mols. ascorbic acid are required for decomposition of 1 mol. myoglobin. On acid treatment both verdo-hemoglobin and -myoglobin give biliverdin. Contrary to the hemoglobin degradation, any side-reaction does not occur in myoglobin decomposition within 7-8 hours of reaction time.